Press control mechanism



Dm, my 3935 c. s. MALOTT, JR 2,923,895

PRESS CONTROL MEGHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS De@ my 3.935, C. s. MALQTT, .JR 2?@237895 PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM l Filed'Jan. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Y 8 0 f6' i)rl j figg/fag l' 57 v I INVENTOR HG r CLIFTON S. MALOTT JR.

I B Y i illtESS CONTROL MECHANHSll/l Clifton S.- Malott, Jr., Norwood, (Ehio, assignor to llhe American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, (Ehio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 24, 1934, Serial No. 708,137

4 Claims.

This invention relates to-a vpressing machine of the type generally used in laundry and garment work.

vThe invention is in the nature of an improvement in the press mechanism illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of Albert Matthews, Serial No. 708,139, filed J anuary 24, 1934.

The copending application shows a pressing head movable into and out of registration with the pressing bed and one object of the present invention is to provide 'power means for moving the head into position registering With the bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide control means for moving the bed into pressing engagement with the head, including an improved arrangement of two hand control members with fluid pressure actuated means for maintaining Ithe manuals in operated position, the uid pressure supply for the maintaining means being provided from the same source which supplies the bed moving means.

The control mechanism also comprises means for automatically maintaining fluid pressure in an expansible bed moving mechanism as long as the pressing members are in registering position and a valve specially constructed to disconnect the uid pressure supply to the bed moving means while said means is being exhausted to the atmosphere.

Another object is to provide a bed adapted to be inflated and heated by the supply of a heated fluid under pressure thereto with an improved arrangement of control valve for said heated fluid.

Other objectsA and advantages will appear from the accompanying description, together with the drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a press embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in section of the pressing bed of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic layout showing the control mechanism of Fig. l in greater detail; while Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of a part of the valve mechanism of Fig. 2.

My invention comprises in general a stationary pressing bed, a pressing head depending on swinging arms abovey said bed with means normally maintaining the head out of registering position and a cylinder and piston motor arranged to swing the bed into registering position. Thereafter the head moving means automatically opens a supply valve which supplies fluid pressure to expansible means arranged to lift the bed into pressing yengagement with the head. The control mechanism includes two normally closed inlet valves in series actuated by manuals arranged to occupy both hands of the operator until the head is moved into registering position and the 5 bed has been sealed in pressure engagement with the head, whereupon a fluid pressure actuated holding means 'comes into play to maintain the manuals in their operated position. A combined normally open inlet port and normally closed exhaust port is provided in the conduit for supplying pressure to the expansible means connected with the bed and suitable means, such as a foot treadle, is momentarily actuated to exhaust the expansible bed moving means while at the same time cutting oir the supply of uid pressure to said means.

The press illustrated is similar to that in the copending application above referred to and comprises a frame I Il supporting a bed I I, there being upstanding frame portions l2 from which a pressing head I3 is swung by means of arms I4 and I5. Where the pressing members are of the elongated type customarily found in the garment and laundry pressing art, a plurality of frame supports I2 and pairs of head supporting arms will be supplied spaced longitudinally of the elongated pressing members. Preferably, the arms I4 and I5 are of equal length and arranged parallel as illustrated so that the head I3 is maintained in substantially horizontal position during its movement into and out of registration. A spring I6 or other suitable means is provided to maintain the head normally in out-of-registration position. 35

Power means is provided for moving the head into registration and in the form shown a cylinder and piston motor I'I is connected between the frame member I2 and one of the head supporting arms I5 so that when vfluid pressure is 40 supplied to the motor I'I the piston will move outwardly to cause the desired movement of the head.

The supply of uid pressure to the head moving motor I1 is by way of supply conduit 3|, normally 'closed inlet valve 32 in valve casing 33, conduit 34, normally closed inlet valve 35 in valve casing 36 and conduit 3l. Valve casing 36 is also provided with a normally open exhaust port 38 to prevent the building up of pressure in head moving motor I1 when the machine isvidle and to 50 permit spring I6 to return the head to its out-ofregistration position when pressure is released in the motor II. The control of inlet valves 32 and 35 is by means of manuals 39 and 40 respectively, each of said manuals being provided with 55 an upstanding arm 4i which is adapted to be engaged by a fluid pressure actuated holding device 42 for maintaining the manuals in operated position.

Fluid pressure actuated means is provided for sealing the pressing bed against the head after these members are in registration. In Fig. 1 the bed is provided with a downwardly extending pressure pin i8 arranged to be contacted and lifted by piston rod I9 of the cylinder and piston motor 20 arranged beneath the bed. 'I'he supply of fluid pressure to the bed moving motor is by way of conduit 2 I normally open inlet port 22 in valve casing 23, conduit 24, normally closed inlet port 25 in valve casing 26 and supply conduit 21. Valve casing 26 also has a normally open exhaust valve 28 for preventing the building up of pressure in the bed moving motor when the machine is idle.

Means is provided for automatically supplying fluid pressure to the bed movingv motor automatically upon movement of the head into registering position. In the form shown this comprises an extension 29 on arm I 5 adapted to engage the stem 30 of valve 26 when the head moves into registration with the bed. This closes exhaust valve 28 and opens inlet port 25 and admits fluid pressure to the expansive means which closes the press and simultaneously supplies fluid to the maintaining means for manuals 39 4and 40 by way of conduit 43, which communicates with conduit 2|.

Means is provided for cutting off the flow oi.' fluid pressure through open port 22 of valve casing 23 when it is desired to open the press. This means comprises a normally closed exhaust port 44 in valve casing 23 and a valve disc 45 arranged upon slight movement to open port 44, thus exhausting fluid pressure from motor 20 through conduit 2i-and at the same time closing port 22 to cut oi the supply of fluid through conduit 24 until the head shall have started to move out of registration sufiiciently to disengage valve stem 30, thus permitting inlet port 25 to be closed. The opening of port 44 also serves to exhaust conduit 43 and the holding means 42, thus permitting the manuals 39 and 40 to return to their unoperated position. Suitable means is provided for actuating the valve disc 45, that shown comprising a foot treadle 46.

The modification of Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 and may be used with airas the operating fluid, as described in connection with Fig. l, but this modified form is more specially adapted for use where the bed moving fluid is also heated, thus forming a source of heat supply to the pressing surface of the bed. To this end the bed comprises a flexible diaphragm member 41 secured to a base 46 in a manner suitable to make a fluid tight compartment. If desired, a metallic plate 49 may be placed over the flexible diaphragm with suitable covering 50 on the pressing surface. 'Ihe supply of fluid pressure to the bed is by way of passageway in the bed supporting base and conduit 52 controlled by valve 53 having a normally closed inlet port 54 and a normally open exhaust port 55. Steam or other heated fluid under pressure is supplied through` conduit 56 and exhausted through conduit 51. For actuating valve 53 a fluid pressure actuated control member 58 is provided, that illustrated being a diaphragm, the fluid side of which, 59, is supplied through conduit 60 through a valve 23' in all respects similar to valve 23 described in connection with Fig. 1. Thus, when air is supplied to conduit 24 by contact between extension 2l' of the head moving arm and valve stem 30', when the head moves into registering position, air or other suitable fluid is supplied to the pressure side 59 of the diaphragm member and admits a heated fluid under pressure to the bed, thus simultaneously heating the pressing surface and expanding the bed to close the press. Actuatlon of foot treadle 46' will exhaust the pressure from the diaphragm member while simultaneously cutting oil the fluid supply through conduit 24 as previously described in connection with Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. In a press of the class described, in combination, a pressing bed, a pressing head movable into and out of registration therewith, iluld pressure actuated power means for so moving said head,

a manually actuated control member for said power means biased toward out-of-registrationproducing position, fluid pressure expansive means for moving said bed into pressure engagement with said head, a fluid pressure supply and exhaust conduit therefor, a valve in said conduit for controlling said fluid supply, a fluid pressure actuatifl holding means for maintaining said control member in into-registratlon-producing position after it is manually actuated, an open fluid supply line between said conduit and holding means, and means for releasing said holding means.

2. In a press of the class described, in c^mbina tion, a pressing bed, a pressing head movable into and out of registration therewith, fluid pressure actuated power means for moving said head into registration, means for moving saidhead out of registration, a control member for said power means, uid pressure actuated holding means for maintaining said control member in operated position, uid exhaust means operable by release of said holding means for exhausting fluid from said power means, uid pressure expansive means for moving said bed into pressure engagement with said head, a fluid pressure supply and exhaust conduit therefor, a valve in said conduit for controlling said fluid supply, means for openingsaid valve automatically by movement of said head into registration with the bed, a'second valve in said conduit after said first valve and having a normally open inlet port permitting so flow of fluid therethrough to said expansive means and a normally closed exhaust port, an open iluid supply line between a point in said conduit after said second valve and said holding means, and means for momentarily closing said normally open inlet port and opening said exhaust port until said head moves out oi registration with said bed.

3; In a press of the class described, in combination, a pressing bed constructed and arranged 60 for expansion and heating by supply of heated fluid under pressure thereto, a conduit for supplying heated uid under pressure to said bed,

a valve in said conduit, a control member for said valve actuable in valve-opening direction by fluid supplied thereto, a motive fluid supply conduit for said control member, a valve in said last named conduit, a pressing head, means for moving said head into and out of registration with said bed, and' means for opening said last named 70 valve automatically upon movement of said head into registration.

4. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed on said frame, a coacting pressing head, mechanism on said frame for moving said head 7s into registry with said bed, means biasing said head in out-of-registry position, uid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said bed into engagement with said head when the latter is in registry, said last named means including iuid supply conduit means having a release valve casing and a supply valve casing in series therein, said supply Valve casing having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open 10 outlet valve; said valves in said supply valve casing being arranged to be actuated by said mechanism when said head moves into registry to open said normally closed inlet valve and to close said normally open outlet valve, said release valve casing having a normally open inlet port and a normally closed outlet port and operator-operated means for momentarily closing said inlet port and opening said outlet port.

CLIFTON S. MALOTT, JR. 

